Fireplace safety and decorative closure device

ABSTRACT

A fireplace safety and decorative closure device intended for mounting in the open front face of a fireplace in the home and the like and including a multitude of individual elongated rectangularly shaped slats of a flat configuration, the slats connected in side-by-side relationship in an accordion-like manner with each slat provided with a guide pin projecting out of opposite ends thereof and with such guide pins received in the vertical slot of a side channel member secured to the side of the fireplace for guided movement of the slats between an open position providing access to the fireplace, and a closed position completely closing the fireplace opening in a decorative and attractive manner and preventing sparks and cinders to escape from an unattended fire into the home through the now closed fireplace opening, the slats when closed providing a smooth flat decorative appearance which may be provided with a design or decorative pattern thereon if so desired.

Barriball United States Patent CLOSURE DEVICE Filed Inventor:

FIREPLACE SAFETY AND DECORATIVE Glenn Barriball, 35 E. Cottage St.,

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 Nov. 4, 1974 Appl. N0.: 520,494

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. 126/140; 126/202; 160/35;

1m. 01. F24C 15/10 Field of Search 126/140, 202; 160/32, 35,

Judge 160/172 Mumford Holloway et a1. Reiss Johnson et al. 160/84 RPrimary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant ExaminerRonald C. CaposselaAttorney, Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A fireplacesafety and decorative closure device intended for mounting in the openfront face of a fireplace in the home and the like and including amultitude of individual elongated rectangularly shaped slats of a flatconfiguration, the slats connected in side-byside relationship in anaccordion-like manner with each slat provided with a guide pinprojecting out of opposite ends thereof and with such guide pinsreceived in the vertical slot of a side channel member secured to theside of the fireplace for guided movement of the slats between an openposition providing access to the'fireplace, and a closed positioncompletely closing the fireplace opening in a decorative and attractivemanner and preventing sparks and cinders to escape from an unattendedfire into the home through the now closed fireplace opening, the slatswhen closed providing a smooth flat decorative appearance which may beprovided with a design or decorative pattern thereon if so desired.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 FIREPLACE SAFETYAND DECORATIVE CLOSURE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates generally to fireplace accessoriesand more particularly to a novel and improved fireplace safety anddecorative closure device operable to completely close the fireplaceopening to prevent sparks, cinders and the like from escaping from anunattended fire, and furthermore to provide a decorative cover for thefireplace opening during periods of nonuse of the fireplace.

2. Description of the Prior Art Fireplace screens formed of a wire meshmaterial supported by a frame suspended across or supported in front ofa fireplace opening have long been known and utilized to prevent acertain portion of the sparks and cinders emitted by a fire from passingthrough the fireplace opening which is partially blocked by the screenmesh. However, such screen is not effective for preventing all of thesparks from passing therethrough, this being especially objectionable inthose cases where the fire is left unattended, such as when individualsretire in the evening and leave the fire to burn itself out.

In view of such dangers, it has been known in the prior art to provideglass closure doors and the like for closing the fireplace opening, butsuch doors destroy the beauty of the fireplace as the fire is viewedthrough the glass and with the odor of the burning wood, the sound ofthe fireplace, and the like being blocked from the room by the glasspartition which is always in position during operation or inoperation ofthe fireplace.

Prior art devices thus suffer many problems and difficulties inattempting to provide a screen providing an individual to enjoy the fireplace while still providing for complete safety of the individualspremises from sparks and cinders emitted from the fireplace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the problemsin the operation of a fireplace and the dangers associated therewith,and recognizing the deficiencies and disadvantages of presentlyavailable screen and door devices, provides a novel solution thereto inthe form of a fireplace safety and decorative closure device intended tobe stored in an out of the way readily accessible position duringoperation of the fireplace providing a full view of the fire in thefireplace with no screen or other material obstructing the view, withthe device readily operable in a rapid and efficient manner to quicklyclose the fireplace opening in a decorative and attractive manner tothus prevent any sparks or cinders from leaving the fireplace andentering the room such that the fire may then be left unattended, suchas when an individual is retiring in the evening.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a fireplace safetyand decorative closure device completely insuring against the passing ofsparks therethrough when in the closed position.

A further feature of the present invention provides a fireplace safetyand decorative closure device which is relatively simple in itsconstruction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at arelatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods so that it maybe retailed at a sufficiently low price to encourage widespread usethereof.

fireplace safety and decorative closure device which is possessed offew-parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order.

Still'a further feature of the present invention provides a fireplacesafety and decorative closure device which is of a rugged and durableconstruction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturerto withstand many years of intended usage.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides afireplace safety and decorative closure device which is aestheticallypleasing and refined in appearance.

Still yet a further feature of the present invention provides afireplace safety and decorative closure device which is easy to use andreliable and efficient in operation.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fireplace opening illustrating thepresent invention in the open position relative thereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front plan view of the fireplace openingillustrating details of the invention with the device in the openposition;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but with theinvention illustrated with the device in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a side trackof the device as viewed along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail there is illustrated a preferred form of a fireplace safety anddecorative closure device constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention and which is designated generally in itsentirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is illustrated for use ona typical fireplace having a rectangular opening with a pair of verticalside walls 11, a horizontal bottom wall surface 12, and a horizontal topwall surface 13. The walls 11-13 define therebetween the opening 14leading into the fireplace in which logs 15 are supported by grate l6.

Disposed vertically along each of the side walls 11 in opening 14 arevertical channel defining side track 20 which, as they are identical inconstruction, only a single side track 20 will be henceforth describedfor ease of descriptive purposes.

Side track 20 is formed of a pair of elongated telescopically relatedtop and bottom members 22 and 21 respectively.

Member 21 is of an elongated hollow frame construction having arectangularcross-section and having a back wall 31, opposed side walls32 and 33, and a front wall 34. Member 21 further has a top end 35 and abottom end 36 with there being defined longitudinally therethroughbetween the top and bottom ends and intermediate the side walls 3134 anelongated passageway 37 of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration.

A slot 38 extends longitudinally through the center of front wallsurface 34 completely between top and bottom ends 35 and 36 of member 21and provides access to passageway 37. Side edges 39. and 41 of slot 38are provided with there being positioned at vertically spaced apartintervals along edge 41 a multitude of laterally extending grooves 42each opening into the slot 38.

Member 22 is of an elongated rectangular box-like shape having a backsurface 51, opposed side surfaces 52 and 53, a front wall surface 54,atop end 55, and a bottom end 56 with a passageway 57 extendingcompletely therethroughand of a rectangular cross-see tionalconfiguration. The exterior dimens of member 22 is such as to betelescopically received in the passgeway 37 of member 21 for telescopicadjustment relative thereto in a direction inwardly and outwardlytherefrom. The surfaces 51-54 are disposed in guidingjuxtw positionadjacent respective surfaces 31-34.

A slot 58 of a width greater than an overlapping slot 38 is provided inface surface 54 and extends longitudinally therethrough and is providedwith side edges 59 and 61. Edge 59 is in substantial alignment with edge39 and with the width of slot 58 being such that slot'42 overlies theslot 58 in communication with passageway 37. Formed integrally atvertically spaced apart positions along edge 61 are U-shaped flange likemembers 62 each extending co-planar with wall 54 into slot 58 and eachhaving a slot formed integrally therewith which is complementary to slot42 of member 21.

. Disposed in side walls 32 and 33 of member 21 adjacent top end 35thereof are axially aligned threaded apertures 65, 65 each extendingcompletely therethrough in communication with passageway 37 and eachadapted to receive therein the threaded shank 66, 66 of adjustmentscrews 67 each having head portion 68, the inner ends of the shank 66bearing against adjacentmost surfaces 52,53 of member 22 when in theadjusted telescopic position to retain the same in such adjustedposition.

The members 21 and 22 are adjusted relative to each other for each oftheside tracks to be of an overall length corresponding to the height ofthe fireplace opening 14 and disposed with the back surfaces 31 and 51against side wall 11 to which it is secured in any suitable manner. suchas by bolts, screws and the like to extend therealong with the slots 38and 58 of each side track disposed in confronting relationship with thecorresponding slots of the other side track.

Extending between side tracks 20 are a multitude of identical individualflat elongated rectangularly shaped slats 71 each having opposedparallel side edges and opposed end edges with adjacentmost slats beinghingedly connected in an accordion manner by hinges 72. Projecting outof the opposite ends 73 of each of the slats 71 is an elongatedcylindrical guide post or rod 74 of a diameter less than the width ofthe slot 62 and 42 and of a length to pass through the slots 38 and 58to be guidingly received therein forxguided vertical movementtherealong.

Each of the slats 71 is of a length corresponding to the spacing betweenthe track 20, with each slat having a width of about 2V2 inches. Theslats are manufactured out of metal having a decorative baked enamelfinish thereover and on which a decorative design or pattern maybeprovided for visibility when the slats are in the closed position aswill be later described.

In operation, and when the device 10 is in the open.

position, the individual slats 71 are disposed parallel to the floorsurface 12 and rest thereon in stacked frontto-back tandem relationship,such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. When it is desiredto completely close off the opening 14of the fireplace, the topmostvertical slat is deployed by moving the 2 same vertically upward betweenthe side tracks 20, the remainder of the slats 71 folling therebehind inan accordionlike fashion as effected by hinges 72 until the topmost slatengages the top surface 13 of the fireplace opening, this position beingmaintained by the guide pins or rods 74 being received in slots 42 and62of the.

side rails to thus maintain the device in the closed position whichcompletely closes the fireplace opening 14 so that sparks and cinderscannot escape or pass there through into the area of the home. This thuspermits the fire to be left unattended without fear of danger fromsparks igniting a fire in the home area.

lt is further envisioned that the device, due to its decorative andattractive appearance. may be-utilizedto.

maintain attractive appearance of the fireplace at all times when not inuse since, as seen in FIG. 3, the fireplace opening iscompletely closedby the slats in a decorative and attractive manner.

It is envisioned within the scope of the present application to alsoprovide detachable latch mechanisms as sociated with the slats and thetop surface 13. of the fireplace opening for use in retaining the slatsin the po-:

sition closing the fireplace opening.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as various changes in the details of construction as toshape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novelconcepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

1. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device intended for usewith an opening of a fireplace in the means hingedly connecting saidslats together in an accordionlike fashion; guide means affixed toopposite ends of each of said slat members and projecting outwardlytherefrom I j adapted to engage said side tracks for guiding verticalmovement of said slats therealong between an open position wherein saidslats lie in stacked relationship on said fireplace horizontal floorsurface, and a closed position wherein said slats are disposedvertically to completely cover the fireplace Having thus described theinventiomwhat is claimed y opening with the slats extending completelybetween said top surface and said bottom surface of said opening;

means for selectively retaining said slats in said closed position;

each of said side tracks comprises a first member and a second member;

first member of an elongated hollow open ended tubular likeconfiguration having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration, saidfirst member comprising:

a flat back surface;

a flat front surface;

opposed parallel flat side wall surfaces;

a top end and a bottom end;

a passageway of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration extendingcompletely between said surfaces between said top and bottom endthereof;

slot extending longitudinally through said front surface completelybetween said top and bottom ends and opening into said passageway;plurality of longitudinally spaced apart laterally extending recessforming slots each disposed in said front surface and opening into aside edge of said slot;

a second member of an elongated hollow tubular-like configuration of arectangular cross-sectional shape adapted to be telescopically receivedin said first member passageway for movement inward and outwardlythereof, said second member comprising:

a flat back wall surface;

a flat front wall surface;

a pair of opposed parallel flat side wall surfaces;

a top end and a bottom end;

a passageway of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration extendinglongitudinally between said surfaces and between said top and saidbottom ends;

said front, back and side wall surfaces of said second member receivedin juxtaposition with the interior of said front, back and side wallsurfaces respectively of said first member when said second member istelescopically inserted into the passageway of said first member;

slot extending longitudinally through said front surface of said secondmember between said opposite ends thereof and having a width greaterthan the width of said first member slot so as to completely overlapsaid first member slot;

a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart U-shaped flange members eachformed integrally with one edge of said second member slot andprojecting inwardly of said slot co-planar with said front surface, therecess slot forming portion of each of said flange members being of thesame width as 6 said recess defining slot of said first member andadapted to overlic the same when in registration therewith;

a pair of axially aligned threaded apertures disposed in opposed sidewalls of said first member adjacent said top end thereof andcommunicating with said first member passageway;

a pair of adjustment screws each having elongated threaded shanks of adiameter to be threadedly received in associated ones of said threadedapertures for movement inwardly and outwardly of said first memberpassageway; and

whereby said adjustment screws are adapted to engage at their innermostends frictionally against associated side walls of said second memberfor frictionally retaining a selected telescopic position of said secondmember relative to said first member.

2. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein each of said slats is of an elongated flat rectangularconfiguration having an interior surface, an exterior surface. opposedside edges and opposed end edges; each of said slats being manufacturedof a metal material provided with a baked enamel finish thereon.

3. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said guide means comprises:

a plurality of elongated cylindrical rod shaped pins, each pinassociated with an end edge of one of said slats and having one end ofthe pin connected thereto with the opposite end of the pin projectinglongitudinally outwardly therefrom along the longitudinal axis of saidslat, each pin having a diameter less than the width of said recessdefining slots of said first and second members of said side tracks,said pins adapted to be guidingly slidingly received in said alignedfirst and second member slots of each side track for guiding movement ofsaid slats through a plane extending parallel to said pair of sidetracks.

4. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth inclaim 3 with said means hingedly connecting said slats togethercomprises a plurality of hinge elements interconnecting adjacentmostslats along the edges thereof in an accordion-like fashion to providefor the accordion-like opening and closing of said slats from an openposition wherein said slats are disposed in stacked relationship alongsaid bottom surface of said fireplace and a closed position wherein saidslats are disposed in a vertical open position completely covering thefireplace opening.

5. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said guide pins are adapted to be removably received insaid recess defining slots of said first and second members of said sidetracks for adjustably retaining said slats in said closed position.

1. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device intended for usewith an opening of a fireplace in the home and the like, the fireplaceopening having a horizontal top surface, a horizontal floor surface, andopposed vertical side wall surfaces defining the fireplace opening, thedevice comprising, in combination: a pair of identical verticallyextending side tracks each adjustable in length and adapted to bemounted to opposite side wall surfaces of said fireplace opening andextend longitudinally therealong; a plurality of elongated rectangularlyshaped flat slat members each of a length to completely extend betweensaid side tracks; means hingedly connecting said slats together in anaccordionlike fashion; guide means affixed to opposite ends of each ofsaid slat members and projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to engagesaid side tracks for guiding vertical movement of said slats therealongbetween an open position wherein said slats lie in stacked relationshipon said fireplace horizontal floor surface, and a closed positionwherein said slats are disposed vertically to completely cover thefireplace opening with the slats extending completely between said topsurface and said bottom surface of said opening; means for selectivelyretaining said slats in said closed position; each of said side trackscomprises a first member and a second member; a first member of anelongated hollow open ended tubular like configuration having arectangular cross-sectional configuration, said first member comprising:a flat back surface; a flat front surface; opposed parallel flat sidewall surfaces; a top end and a bottom end; a passageway of a rectangularcross-sectional configuration extending completely between said surfacesbetween said top and bottom end thereof; a slot extending longitudinallythrough said front surface completely between said top and bottom endsand opening into said passageway; a plurality of longitudinally spacedapart laterally extending recess forming slots each disposed in saidfront surface and opening into a side edge of said slot; a second memberof an elongated hollow tubular-like configuration of a rectangularcross-sectional shape adapted to be telescopically received in saidfirst member passageway for movement iNward and outwardly thereof, saidsecond member comprising: a flat back wall surface; a flat front wallsurface; a pair of opposed parallel flat side wall surfaces; a top endand a bottom end; a passageway of a rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration extending longitudinally between said surfaces and betweensaid top and said bottom ends; said front, back and side wall surfacesof said second member received in juxtaposition with the interior ofsaid front, back and side wall surfaces respectively of said firstmember when said second member is telescopically inserted into thepassageway of said first member; a slot extending longitudinally throughsaid front surface of said second member between said opposite endsthereof and having a width greater than the width of said first memberslot so as to completely overlap said first member slot; a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apart U-shaped flange members each formedintegrally with one edge of said second member slot and projectinginwardly of said slot co-planar with said front surface, the recess slotforming portion of each of said flange members being of the same widthas said recess defining slot of said first member and adapted to overliethe same when in registration therewith; a pair of axially alignedthreaded apertures disposed in opposed side walls of said first memberadjacent said top end thereof and communicating with said first memberpassageway; a pair of adjustment screws each having elongated threadedshanks of a diameter to be threadedly received in associated ones ofsaid threaded apertures for movement inwardly and outwardly of saidfirst member passageway; and whereby said adjustment screws are adaptedto engage at their innermost ends frictionally against associated sidewalls of said second member for frictionally retaining a selectedtelescopic position of said second member relative to said first member.2. A fireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein each of said slats is of an elongated flat rectangularconfiguration having an interior surface, an exterior surface, opposedside edges and opposed end edges; each of said slats being manufacturedof a metal material provided with a baked enamel finish thereon.
 3. Afireplace safety and decorative closure device as set forth in claim 2wherein said guide means comprises: a plurality of elongated cylindricalrod shaped pins, each pin associated with an end edge of one of saidslats and having one end of the pin connected thereto with the oppositeend of the pin projecting longitudinally outwardly therefrom along thelongitudinal axis of said slat, each pin having a diameter less than thewidth of said recess defining slots of said first and second members ofsaid side tracks, said pins adapted to be guidingly slidingly receivedin said aligned first and second member slots of each side track forguiding movement of said slats through a plane extending parallel tosaid pair of side tracks.
 4. A fireplace safety and decorative closuredevice as set forth in claim 3 with said means hingedly connecting saidslats together comprises a plurality of hinge elements interconnectingadjacentmost slats along the edges thereof in an accordion-like fashionto provide for the accordion-like opening and closing of said slats froman open position wherein said slats are disposed in stacked relationshipalong said bottom surface of said fireplace and a closed positionwherein said slats are disposed in a vertical open position completelycovering the fireplace opening.
 5. A fireplace safety and decorativeclosure device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide pins areadapted to be removably received in said recess defining slots of saidfirst and second members of said side tracks for adjustably retainingsaid slats in said closed position.